The Public Health Service - Research Paper Example

? National Institutes of Health (NIH) AFFILIATION: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Brief Introduction and History of National Institutes of Health (NIH) The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is among the leading and top ranked health agencies that form an integral part of the Public Health Service which is a vital element of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Sciences. In 1887, NIH was founded with the aim of providing high quality medical services that can enhance the contributions made by the researchers belonging to the field of medical science. Initially, it was established as the Laboratory of Hygiene which was a one-room operation with only limited budget; currently, it comprises of more than twenty-seven institutes and centers and each one of them has a particular agenda for the research (“NIH History”, 2012). NIH is believed to be the largest source of funding for various kinds of medical researches worldwide that is successfully creating more than hundreds and thousands of excellent quality jobs. Almost all of these jobs are developed by providing the funds to thousands of scientists in different research institutions and universities in each and every state across United States of America (U.S.A.) and across the world. The main purpose of all of NIH Institutes and Centers is to have a focused approach on the specific diseases that are hazardous or on the body systems to take proactive measures for enhancing the lives of people (Tan & Payton, 2010). In simpler terms, the mission of NIH can be described as “To gain knowledge and information about various medical related diseases that range from the common cold to the rarest disorder of genes by ensuring that the diseases are prevented, detected, diagnosed and treated with accuracy so that the health of all human beings remain safe and secured” (“NIH Mission”, 2012). In order to achieve its desired goal, NIH ensures that the research studies are conducted in Bethesda, Maryland where it has its own laboratories. NIH is providing support for the research done by all nonfederal scientists nationwide and at international level, it trains the research investigators for conducting proper research and communicates important information about the medical field to the general public. Institutes of NIH Since the main aim of NIH was to identify all the diseases that can impact the lives of people, it has developed about twenty-seven Institutes and Centers and each one of them is fulfilling specific area requirements such as cancer, stem cell research, HIV/AIDS, Diabetes and many more. In the following table, the complete details about the NIH institutes and Centers along with the establishment date is given to give an idea about the contribution that it has made in the field of medical science: Name of Institute Year of establishment National Cancer Institute (NCI) 1937 National Heart, Lung and Blood Pressure Institute (NHLBI) 1948 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) 1948 National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) 1948 National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) 1949 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) 1950 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) 1950 National Library of Medicine (NLM) 1956 Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) 1962 National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) 1962 National Eye Institute (NEI) 1968 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) 1969 National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) 1970 National Institute on Aging (NIA) 1974 National Institute On Drug Abuse (NIDA) 1974 National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) 1986 National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) 1986 National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) 1988 National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) 1989 National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disciplines (NIMHD) 1993 National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) 2000 (“Institutes, Centers and Offices”, 2012) Name of Center Year of establishment Center for Scientific Review (CSR) 1946 Center for Information Technology (CIT) 1964 John E. Forgarty International Center for Advanced Study in the Health Science (FIC) 1968 NIH Clinical Center (CC) 1953 National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) 1999 National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) 2011 (“Institutes, Centers and Offices”, 2012) Research Breakthroughs by NIH NIH has been supporting various research projects worldwide and it ensures that it has sufficient amount of fund available to finance various projects of the medical science field. More than 82% of investment is done via the contracts and grants by NIH that are supporting training and research in about two thousand universities, hospitals, medical schools and research institutions (Zeng, Reynolds & Sharp, 2009). About 10% of the total budget is designated for the projects that are conducted in laboratories of NIH and they are usually more than 2000 in number; more than 80% covers the support costs for researches that are conducted both outside and within NIH. In the following table some of the research breakthroughs that are done by NIH year wise are shown to give an idea about the research contributions that it has made in the last three years: Year Researches done 2011 Less invasive surgery just as effective for some breast cancer patients Treating HIV Early Prevents Transmission Saliva Testing catches CMV Infection in Newborns Less medication effective for Wheezing Preschoolers Treatment helps with kidney transplant Trial Resource Movements to Paralyzed Man’s legs Blood DNA test Detects Heart Transplantation Rate Parkinson’s protein many regulate fat metabolism Gene therapy helps patients with Hemophilia New uses for existing medicines Autism blurs distinctions between brain regions Survival tactics of a common gut Microbe Genome comparison casts light on dark areas of DNA 2010 Gene Variants Tied to Poor Outcomes with Heart Drug Alzheimer’s Disease Signature Seen in Spinal Fluid Patient’s Whole Genome Reveals Disease and Medication Risks Best Treatment Differs for Kids With Asthma The Health Benefits of Cutting Salt  Progress on a Universal Flu Vaccine Where kids get their empty calories? How light boosts migraine pain? Making a lung replacement Controlling computers with your mind Neanderthal genome sequenced Stress hormone causes epigenetic changes 2009 Gene therapy shows promise for eye condition Weight loss depends on less calories, not nutrient mix Deep brain stimulation curbs Parkinson symptoms Vitamin C may reduce Gout Risk Genetic tests help optimize doses of blood-thinning drug Time of day can be critical in chemotherapy How ozone harms lungs? Autism tied to genes that influence brain cell connections Technique blocks as condition feared in humans Alcohol’s site of action revealed Scientists detect key proteins needed for ovulation Understanding a common cold virus (“Selected Research Advances of NIH”, 2012) Current Research Initiatives by NIH The most recent research initiatives that have been done by NIH are related to the stem cell research, treatments for various life threatening diseases such as cancer, HIV/Aids and diabetes and inventions of new medicines so that the patients can be provided an effective course of action with minimum amount of side-effects (“Science Highlights”, 2012). In order to achieve its goals, it has become mandatory for NIH to have the latest technology that can assist its staff and researchers to complete the projects on time and with perfection. In addition to the stem cell research, the present research initiatives by NIH are grouped into various categories such as Medical Research with Animals, About Behavioral and Social Science Research, Advanced in HIV/AIDS research, Nanotechnology at NIH, Advances in Colorectal Cancer Research, Research Riddle Resolved and Advances in Medical Imaging (“Science Highlights”, 2012). Technology used at NIH NIH has developed an office by the name of “NIH Office of Technology Transfer (OTT)” that ensures that the organization has all the latest and up-to-date technology that will assist it in performing all its required tasks and roles with perfection. OTT allows the evaluation, protection, marketing, licensing, monitoring and managing of the most diverse range of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and NIH inventions, intellectual property rights and discoveries that are consented by the Federal Technology Transfer Act and other legislations related to it (“About NIH OTT”, 2012). In order to accomplish the mission, OTT ensures that it carefully looks into the prosecutions of the patent and even does negotiation and monitoring of all licensing agreements. Like all other fields, the technology is vital for providing support to all developments that take place in the medical science field. All of the discoveries such as unique biological molecules, pathways, processes or application of present knowledge in new way mandate the presence of the latest technologies so that they can do an in-depth evaluation of the discovery which comprises of detailed Research and Development, testing for further investigation, taking approval from the respective regulatory bodies, manufacturing feasibility and distribution networks availability. With the help of OTT, NIH can easily carry out the latest technology transfers that are mandated to retain the inventions’ titles which have been developed in the intramural laboratories of NIH and executing the licensing agreements for private corporations so that they can use, commercialize and make the invention available to the general public. When NIH gives the licenses, it allows the corporations belonging to the private sector to conduct further and in-depth research and development along with prospective commercialization so that more health benefits can be provided to the general public. Awards received by NIH NIH has made major contribution in the field of medical science and the discoveries made by the investigators supported by NIH has been awarded as well; more than 80 Nobel prizes have been received by NIH-supported research studies. The major contribution was in the intramural programs in which NIH was awarded five prizes. Some of the intramural discoveries done through these research studies are demonstration of how the chemicals acts for transmitting the electrical signals in between nerve cells, the genetic code deciphering which is the main source of governing all processes of life, the description of relationship between the proteins’ chemical composition and their folding into a biologically active conformation (“NIH History”, 2012). With the help of various research studies conducted by NIH, a better understanding of diseases has been developed especially those that are genetically based, antidepressants of good quality are developed and drugs exclusively required for proteins have been invented to treat any kind of protein related diseases. Some of the research also revealed that dementia and morbidity are an integral and normal part of an aging process. Hence, all the research have helped the professionals of the medical science field in enhancing the living standards of general public and ensuring that they have complete information about various diseases so that they can take some precautionary measures on their own (“Selected Research Advances of NIH”, 2012). Health Information Management (HIM) System Health Information Management (HIM) system has become an important requirement in the medical science field as the medical professionals such as doctors, researchers, innovators and others require easy and instant access to all vital information that can help them in making quick decisions and also enhance their knowledge related to their field. According to Wager, Lee and Glaser (2009), HIM system is an integrated attempt for collecting, processing, reporting and using knowledge and information related to health that can influence the initiatives related to making policies, designing the actions for programs and even conducting research studies. The HIM system is mainly dependent on the quantitative data as it comprises of details about health status along with mortality of populations during specific time period, thorough analysis of the root causes of health problems, identifying the relationships between the outcomes of health and preventive factors and detailed assessment of public health interventions’ effectiveness (Kolodner, Cohn & Friedman, 2008). Hence, it is a much more advanced system that a general health-related system has some general information about the medical science field; HIM system has much more extensive and comprehensive information about the medical science field that allows the medical professionals to enhance their knowledge base and contribute something beneficial in the respective field (Shannon, 2007). Role of HIM in Medical field HIM system in medical field is vital as it allows the users to retrieve all vital information from one place. According to Zeng, Reynolds and Sharp (2009), the term ‘system’ means that there should be synchronization and integration among all the processes in the organization so that everyone can have access to important information. In simpler terms, system is an organized or a connected whole of the entire process (Castro, 2009). In the real world, it has been found that most of the organizations and even countries lack an appropriate HIM system as they are developed in a traditional way that comprises of pressures related to legal aspect, donors, administrative/management or economic and have highly complicated structures that are difficult for the medical professionals to understand. HIM system is highly demanded by the researchers in the medical science field as they need to have easy access to the required information that can help them in conducting the research studies in the most proficient manner. In such systems, the databases of many past years is adequately stored that ensures that all important information is available from one place. The systems are highly demanded in the public sector especially by NIH so that they can provide adequate support to their people and ensure that they provide the latest information and details about the medical science field (Tan & Payton, 2010). In order to make sure that everyone is provided the best and latest HIM system in the medical science field, the system developers are offering new and innovative systems that are developed in accordance with the requirements of their clients. Since HIM system is among the mandatory requirements of the institutions in the medical science field, the system developers have ensured that the features are easily understandable by the users of the system (Wager, Lee & Glaser, 2009). All of these systems have eased the research processes that are being conducted by the professionals and it even allows them to disseminate information in an efficient manner so that the general public can take advantage of health information. With easy availability of such detailed information about the diseases, medications and preventive factors, everyone can easily take care of their health and ensure that they remain fit and safe from any kind of vulnerable disease. Challenges faced by professionals of HIM Since the HIM system has become technologically advanced, the professionals operating the system have to first make sure that they develop an understanding about the system and then take mandatory steps for performing their tasks with perfection. However, there are three main issues that are faced by professionals for HIM system: 1. Money availability – The institutions have to ensure that they have sufficient money available to purchase the system, install it and upgrade it on a continuous manner. Most of the professionals believe that the implementation of HIM system is one-time cost; however, in reality, they need to be prepared to incur any additional cost regarding the repair, maintenance and up gradation of the system. Hence, there should be constant flow of money to finance the HIM system so that it can be used in a productive manner (Wager, Lee & Glaser, 2009). 2. Responsibility division – The main area of concern in the HIM system is the division of responsibility which means that who will ensure that the data stored in the system is up-to-date. Since developments in the medical field take place at an accelerating pace, it is important that the data is stored in the system database is upgraded so that the person accessing the information has access to the most recent information and details (Zeng, Reynolds & Sharp, 2009). 3. Capacity of the system – Some HIM systems are so advanced that they can give final reports such as statistical data about any particular thing quickly and it is important that the system has enough storage capacity which will ensure that all information can be stored in one place. When the systems lack sufficient storage capacity, it creates problems for the HIM professionals as they have to find other places to store the data or delete some old data; hence, capacity of the system is a challenge that needs to be addressed before it creates big problems for professionals (Zeng, Reynolds & Sharp, 2009). Conclusion NIH has done a lot of valuable contribution in the field of medical science by designing the best methods for conducting various kinds of research studies along with providing support for discovery of new and unique biological molecules that can be beneficial for the health of general public. Since NIH is supporting various research studies worldwide, it has to ensure that it promotes development and implementation of an effective and well-integrated HIM system that will assist the professionals of the respective field to carry on their work with perfection and accuracy. Although there are some challenges faced by the HIM professionals but they can be easily tackled when effective course of action is taken to eradicate the factors causing such problems. The technology has definitely revolutionized the way in which medical research studies and processes are conducted in the field of medical science; in future, it is expected to eradicate all the problems that are faced by current professionals of the medical science field by ensuring that the technology is used in a highly effective and an organized way. References About NIH OTT (2012). Retrieved November 10, 2012 from http://www.ott.nih.gov/about_nih/about.aspx Castro, D. (2009). The role of Information Technology in Medical Research. Retrieved November 10, 2012 from http://itif.org/files/2009-it-medical-research.pdf Institutes, Centers and Offices (2012). Retrieved November 10, 2012 from http://www.nih.gov/icd/ Kolodner, R.M., Cohn, S.P., & Friedman, C.P. (2008). Health Information Technology: Strategic Initiatives, Real Progress. Health Affairs, 27, w391–w395. NIH History (2012). Retrieved November 10, 2012 from http://history.nih.gov/exhibits/history/index.html NIH Mission (2012). Retrieved November 10, 2012 from http://www.nih.gov/about/mission.htm Science Highlights (2012). Retrieved November 10, 2012 from http://www.nih.gov/science/highlights.htm Selected Research Advances of NIH (2012). Retrieved November 10, 2012 from http://history.nih.gov/about/timelines_research_advances.html Shannon, D. (2007). Challenges in Patient Safety and Quality: Replacing Discouragement with Hope. Physician Executive, 33(3), 15-21. Tan, J., & Payton, F.C. (2010). Adaptive Health Management Information Systems. 3rd ed. London, United Kingdom: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Wager, K.A., Lee, F.W. & Glaser, J.P. (2009). Health Care Information Systems: A practical approach for healthcare management. 2nd ed. NJ, USA: Jossey-Bass. Zeng, X., Reynolds, R., & Sharp, M. (2009). Redefining the Roles of Health Information Management Professionals in Health Information Technology. Perspectives in Health Information Management, 6(11), 1-11. Read More